Camping Trip

Used to tent camp with young kids a lot. Just be flexible and try to anticipate their needs, variances in weather etc. You can go as many days as it works out. Actually, the kids settle in better if you're there a bit longer. Have fun!!

Im so glad you asked this question! I am going camping over July 4th at a KOA kid friendly camp ground....we will have LOTS to do with the 4th and the Cherry Festival but I was worried too how my now 14 month old would do....I so scared she wont sleep and I will end up staying awake for 3 days straight!

My family just told me to over pack on everything including baby wipes! And to bring new never before seen toys along with outside toys....good luck! Sorry I didnt have any good advice!

We went upnorth a few times when my oldest was between 2-4.. We roughed it, no campground.. It was hard but it was fun as well.. We went again last yr up to the bridge, stayed right on the water and it was great!! Our kids were 1.5 and 5.5 then.. We just brought lots of toys and since naptime was impossible they both got tired out so much that they went right to sleep.. but it was usually after dark though.. We are planning another trip next month.. Can I ask what "kid friendly" camp-ground your going to?.. I have been trying to find some but had problems..
Good luck on your trip :)

L.-

I've only camped with my little ones in a trailer, but the hardest part was sleeping at night. Your 5 year old will probably be fine, but your 13 month old is going to be out of her element and might be scared. You might only want to go for 2 nights, just for that reason. It always took my sons time to adjust to their surroundings the first night or two. Also, since you're going to a "kid's focused" campground, you'll have plenty of activities to keep them entertained, so my best bit of advice would be to bring a refrigerator if possible. That was the best asset of the trailer; not having to worry about getting ice all of the time and everything being so soggy. If you don't have one yourself, maybe someone has a dorm-size fridge you can borrow? They don't take that long to cool down (this is assuming that you'll have electricity at your site) and getting ice on a regular basis will be one less thing that you'll have to worry about. Have a great time!

L.,

my kids are 7 and 9, we have been camping since they were lil babies. my advice would be as you have planned, no more then 3 nights. Camping is fun, but also exhausting (setting up camp, cooking without the luxuries of a home stove, and breaking down) on top of all the camping duties, you have 2 lil ones that are (if anything like mine) in heaven, bc they are outside constantly and never want to call it a day until the last marshmallow is roasted at the fire (even then it becomes a struggle!!) At the end you will probably be glad to be back home and tired, but well worth all the fun and memories you will have from the experience!!

Hi L. - We go tent camping with our 2 children (5 and 7), but we went when they were younger as well. We all love it. It's such a wonderful activity for family focused time. We've always gone for 2 nights and find that works well for us. Keep it simple, food wise and let them participate and help as much as possible (ie. collect sticks for firewood, etc). Where do you go that's "kid focused?" Have a great time and happy camping!!!

We have tent camped with our children and grandchildren since they were about 5 weeks old. A pack an Play and sun umbrella and a small inflatable pool were life savers. Don't forget the stroller. I gave my granddaughter a dish pan with water and some plastic dishes and she "washed" dishes for hours! They all slept really well at night from all the fresh air and we always stayed a week to 10 days. Small riding toys are great too. Have fun relax and go with the flow you will have a great time.

We took our three kids camping from birth. The tent works fine for the littlest ones. I slept in front of the door. We went over a long weekend due to our schedules so a short trip is great for trying it. I would set a clear expection up front. To adults the camp boundaries are clearer than they are to young children. I put "markers" at the borders of our area and told them they couldn't go outside them without a parent. We live in the country and we're not used to so many people around. Also let explore the bathroom area so they won't be scared in the middle of the night or in the hectic moments in the morning when they are extremely busy. When we got there be ready for them to be very excited and ready to run and you set up the tent. I kept them busy setting up an area while we put up the tent, since they will want to go to the play area, etc right away. Also look for short two hour "field trips" to a lake, river, small town for ice cream, etc. If you do this late in the afternoon it will provide a short ride and possible napping for the youngest child. Other than that, hang out and relax and enjoy.

2-3 days is perfect for you. I took my daugter's at ages 6months and 3 years (now 10 and 13). We tent camped also. Just be prepard for not stop movement and bring something to contian the 13 month old. We brought our exsaucer and the little one sleep with us. You might also have to lay down with them in the tent to get them to go to sleep. And forget about naps.

We took our son for the first time when he was 14 months - it did not go well. Even with his favorite blanket he just couldn't sleep not being in his crib. However, by the following summer all was well. We just needed to get him used to it.

1. Shoes will get filthy. Go to Walmart and buy a cheap pair of tennis shoes that you don't care if they get ruined.

2. Take a backpack to carry all your beach stuff in - your hands will be full.

3. We keep our suitcases in the back of our car, and only pull out whatever outfit we are going to put on next. That way your stuff doesn't get strewn all over the tent.

4. Also keep food in your car - it keeps it away from animals.

5. Take things to do like bubbles, balls, squirt guns, etc.

We just went tent camping Memorial weekend with our 2 1/2 yr old and 5 month old. Both kids did great. We went camping last year with our oldest so she is used to it. I would do whatever you are comfortable with. We usually do 2-3 nights depending on the time my husband can get off from work. We have 2 more camping trips planned for this summer, so just have fun and be organized with all the different things you will need. Bring sweatshirts and long sleeved pjs for at night even if the weather says it is not going to get that cool at night, it always feels colder.

Hi L.! You are brave. We went tent camping a few times when our kids were little and I hate to say it, but we never went again! The first time our son was 3 and our daughter was 2 months. That was actually fun because we slept in a customized van. We took a baby swing and it helped that she was so little and not really active yet. Our son had a blast. We went again, with a tent, when our son was 4, daughter 2 and son 10 months! It was so much work that we really didn't enjoy ourselves. I say to make things easier for yourselves just be really prepared. With the ages of your children I bet you will have alot of fun. 1 parent per child makes things easier!! LOL My husband and I have been talking about going camping again with our now 4 children who are much older now. (ages 12,9,7,6) But I think we are more camper people! I hope I didn't discourage you and I hope you have a wonderful time!

L., First, Have a camping night at home! Back yard or living room? See what happens!
Then do 2 nights. Both of your children are at ages where new big things can be overwhelming! make sure you have battery operated lanterns, and if you plan on a campfire, bring some kind of "surround", they make them for dogs, it is well worth the peace of mind! You can even roast marshmallows thru it. The rest will be great, have a great time! K. (long time camper, with children!)

When we camped with our son for the first few times, 2-3 nights was just right. He had the experience but it wasn't too long for him to be uncomfortable with it. Have fun!!

We used to take our kids camping a lot. One year the dogs came along. It worked fine. And we camped for about a week's time. There are plenty of camp grounds where you can hunker down for the night for a minimum fee, have a campfire, shower etc. Why go to a kid oriented one? You're going to be there, there's a lot of Michigan to see while you're camping. I mean the point is to be out in nature, enjoy roughing it, and seeing nature. Kids can have the other kid of fun any time.

Have fun!

We camped for the first time when my daughter was about 20 months old and we went for two nights. We had fun, but were completely exhausted when we returned due to lack of sleep. The excitement of sleeping in a tent kept her up until at least midnight, then she was up at the crack of dawn, around 5 AM both mornings. She slept the entire 3 1/2 hour ride home though!

Hi L., I love camping and have 3 children, ages; 15 years, 12 years and 10 months. We went with all of them at various ages and even though it was more work (stuff to bring) I still enjoyed the time when they were little and we camped. The thing to do is be sensitive to their interests and needs; slow down and enjoy the simple things like watching a lady bug or playing in the sand or throwing rocks in the water. You don't have to pack the day with activities, just let them explore nature and relax - it's good for all of you. We also have a few traditions that we do and look forward to each year (even my teenagers still enjoy this)...such as a sparkle party at bedtime in the tent when it gets dark; give everyone a wintergreen lifesaver and have them chew it with their mouth open (looking into the mouth of a partner) in the dark (do it together; say; 1-2-3-sparkle) and watch the sparks fly (it will make your mouth glow and looks like lightening), the kids think it's pretty cool and it's something to look forward to at bedtime when it's dark. We also sing around the campfire while roasting marshmellows (s-mores). We also enjoy night hikes (use a red flashlight so you don't scare away the nocturnal animals; they don't see color). Make your own traditions, but keep it simple and treasure every moment. I took our 10 month old last summer when he was only 2 months and he loved it, we are going again this summer when he's 1. IF you want more ideas I have a TON, I was a Naturalist for many years before I decided to stay home with our son and start my own business (internet product brokerage company; one to one marketing and web site design with Market America) so I can enjoy the time I have with my wonderful children. If you want to know more about nature activities OR working from home getting maximum pay for minimal work give me a call: ###-###-#### or e-mail: ____@____.com. Please look at my web portal when you can (save time and money shopping on line): www.marketamerica.com/jendiehl
Thanks,
J.

Hi L.!

Good for you, go camping for as long as you are comfortable with. We go every year with our 3 (6, 4.5 & 1.5) and rarely go anywhere that is a kid focused campground. We usually go where there is a beach nearby, maybe a playground at the campground, and always near an area with lots to do. We stay at State campgrounds like Harrisville, Petosky, near Sx Ste Marie, etc. and take day trips. My boys always have a blast and usually get to learn about our state.

When my kids were that young we used one of those big play yard enclosures for the youngest so they weren't needing to constantly be watched. I have to say, it wasn't easy with them that young. When the youngest was about 5 years old began to be fun again. Sleeping was difficult for them.

We camp in a camper now, but when I was young, my family always camped in tents. One of the smartest things that I think my parents did was they always brought one of those small black rough surfaced (kinda plastic) mats with us and it always went infront of the tent door. We were taught right from the start to always kick off our shoes on that before going into the tent...it really helped to keep sand/dirt out of the beds. Have so much fun with your family and if you need a FUN, FREE camping adventure, check out letterboxing. It's one of our family FAVORITES!

~Amanada

You guys will have a lot of fun! We took our boys over Memorial weekend. Our oldest is 2 1/2 and our youngest is 10 mths. My biggest suggestion would be to make sure you have enough toys for the kids to play with and also to have a separate air mattress for the kids. We used a king size mattress for all of us and the problem we had was that if one of us got up it was move the kids and then they would wake up. We went for 2 nights and that seems like a good amount of time. Have fun! D.

L.,
We camped with our children when they were both under age 3. Two nights is enough for the first time. We had a playpen for our youngest and the oldest slept in a sleeping bag next to us. We also gave the oldest one a flashlight as it gets dark and usually no street lights.
Those were fun days,
Have fun,
D.

What fun parents!! Those girls are sooooo blessed!! We took our 9 month old and 3 year old seven years ago. We found that a trial run one night in the backyard was time well spent!! (That way if there were things we wanted to try or "forgot" the house was only 20 feet away!!!) The best thing that worked for us was to take a box fan (any fan should do). When you're ready for that wonderful sleep after a full busy day, there are a lot of strange noises that keep the kids awake.. especially in a tent!! The fan did a great job of helping to drown out voices, and dogs and whatever!! Also if it was a hot night, it kept a nice breeze moving so you could sleep. Just be careful of little fingers!

I pray you have a GREAT time!!!

Also I don't know your feelings about God or church camp. But there are some AWESOME camps designated just for families... and I tell you, as a mom, I find them to be the BEST way to camp as a family. All the meals are prepared and included!! (Which to me, it was difficult to enjoy camping because 80% of the time I was keeping everyone fed and then cleaning up!!!) You stay in your own cabin with a fire place. (Don't have to be in a tent or bring and set up a tent.) There are praise and worship in the mornings with some bible studies. Then the afternoon is free to swim, hike, archery, ride the camp boat, canoe, fishing. There are crafts for the kids and programs for them also. After dinner there are family activies planned like "Messy Olympics", volleyball games. And there is always singing around the campfire. If you want a place that really allows you to leave behind the choas of life and to really connect and feel close to your family I give family camp a 50+++ on a scale from 1-10!!
We have gone to Lake Louise which is north of Gaylord for the last 5 years... and it is our favorite vacation! If it sounds like your "cup of tea" check it out at:
www.camplakelouise.com
There is also one scheduled closer in Lapeer (we're not personally been to this one, but have heard good things!)
www.camplael.com

I hope this helps!

Well good for you. Love camping. But its a lot of work, most of all for us Moms. Over packing is correct. Bug spray, wipes. Here's a trick take some new cheap dryer sheets. tie them to your shoe lace or belt loop. it helps prevent some flying insects. actually works. tried it myself just a few weeks ago at Girl Scout camp with 15 seven year olds. DON'T FORGET BENIDRYL. Take a cd player and some easy listening. the fresh air will put the little one to sleep. but the easy listening music in the back ground and the outdoor noises will blend well. my two girls never slept better. good luck.